History | Wayne County Schools Career Center

The Wayne County Schools Career Center opened as the Wayne County Joint Vocational School in 1969 to provide vocational training for Wayne County high school juniors and seniors. Educators from all 10 Wayne County school districts and hundreds of local skilled tradespeople, managers, business owners and agencies worked together to ensure that the school met the needs of local business and industry. The vocational school offered 22 trade programs and three academic classes, English, social studies and history, to 490 students, and was centrally located in Smithville.

Many programs have been added as the demand for workers has changed, and the name of the school was changed in 1984 to the Wayne County Schools Career Center. Currently, the Wayne County Schools Career Center offers 25 career and technical programs, and 18 academic courses. One offsite course is included in that count, Engineering Technologies at Orrville High School.

Adult Education began in 1967 with a Practical Nursing program and a Machine Apprenticeship program. In 1969, Adult Education moved into the WCJVS building, offering 34 classes. It has continued to expand and is now a full service Adult & Community Education Center. Adult Education offers more than 135 class offerings to approximately 3,000 students each year, including online courses. To business and industry, we offer customized and cost-effective assessments and training.

Our Aspire, Families Learning Together (FLT) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is housed at Central Christian Church in Wooster. Other ABLE classes are located throughout Wayne County, including Orrville, Fredericksburg, and Rittman.

Links to more information:

1960s

More 1969 information

Programs added by Decade